Berms for protective liners

Abstract

Berms for use with protective liners are disclosed. The berms may be configured to allow vehicular traffic to pass over the berms without causing damage. Such drive-over berms may be rigid and shaped to allow vehicle tires to pass over them, or may be resilient and collapsible such that they collapse when subjected to the weight of a vehicle tire, and then spring back to shape after the vehicle passes. Also disclosed are berms that may be stacked for storage and transportation purposes, and berms that include connectors for connecting multiple sections of the berms end-to-end.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drive-over berm for use with a protective liner, the berm comprising:
 a rigid base; and   a berm body extending upwardly from the base structured and arranged to allow vehicular traffic over the berm.   
     
     
         2 . The drive-over berm of  claim 1 , wherein the berm body comprises a collapsible resilient material. 
     
     
         3 . The drive-over berm of  claim 2 , wherein the berm body has a generally triangular cross section. 
     
     
         4 . The drive-over berm of  claim 2 , wherein the berm body comprises foam. 
     
     
         5 . The drive-over berm of  claim 4 , wherein the foam comprises open cell foam. 
     
     
         6 . The drive-over berm of  claim 2 , wherein the berm body further comprises a plate that contacts the rigid base. 
     
     
         7 . The drive-over berm of  claim 6 , wherein the plate is located at least partially below the collapsible resilient material of the berm body, comprises a material that is less resilient than the collapsible resilient material of the berm body, and is secured within at least one channel of the rigid base. 
     
     
         8 . The drive-over berm of  claim 2 , wherein the rigid base comprises at least one retaining member in contact with the berm body. 
     
     
         9 . The drive-over berm of  claim 2 , wherein the rigid base comprises at least one projection extending downwardly from a lower surface thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The drive-over berm of  claim 2 , wherein the rigid base comprises extruded plastic. 
     
     
         11 . The drive-over berm of  claim 1 , wherein the berm body comprises sloped sidewalls extending inwardly and upward from side edges of the rigid base. 
     
     
         12 . The drive-over berm of  claim 11 , wherein the sloped sidewalls comprise convexly curved outer surfaces. 
     
     
         13 . The drive-over berm of  claim 11 , wherein the berm body comprises a rigid material. 
     
     
         14 . The drive-over berm of  claim 13 , wherein the rigid berm body material is integrally formed with the rigid base. 
     
     
         15 . The drive-over berm of  claim 1 , further comprising means for connecting an end of the berm to another berm. 
     
     
         16 . The drive-over berm of  claim 15 , wherein the connecting means comprises an extending member extending from one of the berms into a receiving recess in the other berm. 
     
     
         17 . An interlocking berm assembly for use with a protective liner, the assembly comprising:
 a first berm section having a connecting end;   a second berm section having a connecting end; and   at least one connector securing the connecting ends of the first and second berm sections together.   
     
     
         18 . The interlocking berm assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one connector comprises an extending member extending from the connecting end of the first berm into a receiving recess in the connecting end of the second berm. 
     
     
         19 . The interlocking berm assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the extending member is substantially plate shaped, and the receiving recess comprises a substantially flat channel. 
     
     
         20 . The interlocking berm assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the extending member comprises a rod, and the receiving recess comprises a channel having a cross section shaped to receive the rod therein. 
     
     
         21 . The interlocking berm assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the extending member comprises a tab extending from a base of the first berm section, and the receiving recess comprises an opening in a base of the second berm section. 
     
     
         22 . The interlocking berm assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the connector is disconnectable from both the first and second berm sections. 
     
     
         23 . A stackable berm for use with a protective liner, the stackable berm comprising:
 opposing sidewalls extending upward from an open base; and   a top connected to upper portions of the opposing sidewalls, wherein the sidewalls and top define an open volume inside the stackable berm, and are structured and arranged to fit inside an open volume inside another similarly shaped berm.   
     
     
         24 . The stackable berm of  claim 23 , wherein the stackable berm is rigid. 
     
     
         25 . A protective liner and berm assembly comprising:
 a berm comprising:
 a rigid base; and 
 a bean body extending upwardly from the base structured and arranged to allow vehicular traffic over the berm; and 
   a protective liner covering at least a portion of the berm.   
     
     
         26 . The protective liner and berm assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the liner substantially surrounds the berm. 
     
     
         27 . The protective liner and berm assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the liner comprises an edge that is folded over the berm and is attached to an interior portion of the liner. 
     
     
         28 . The protective liner and berm assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the edge of the liner is attached by heat welding. 
     
     
         29 . The protective liner and berm assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the liner does not extend below the berm. 
     
     
         30 . The protective liner and berm assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the liner is mechanically fastened to the berm.